Before & After Makeover: A Dark, Dated Kitchen Goes Light and Bright

By painting the existing cabinetry, replacing the countertop, and swapping the ceiling fan for pendant lights, designer T. Keller Donovan transformed his Florida kitchen on a tight budget. Here, he shares his time and money-saving tips for getting a dream kitchen — without having to demolish the whole room.

After: Light and Airy

After: Light and Airy

Instead of replacing the cabinets, Donovan painted the existing ones white, and to save on budget, he kept the floors. But he did decide to replace the all-black appliances. "They just don't work in Florida," he says.

Pendant Lights

Pendant Lights

Donovan replaced the ceiling fan with two pendant lights because they "give me concentrated light just where I need it for chopping and arranging food on plates." The lights look a lot sleeker than the bulky fan, too.